The most precious thing.

Just happened. There is a bedtime routine in this house. Two books for Grace at 7:30
( we're a little late) & the same for Connor but at 8:30.

For Grace.... you have to lay on the floor by her little bed & she holds your hand for a little while. I tell you, that little hand in mine with Enya playing in the background about melted this tough old broad into a puddle of butter.

Sometimes it takes just a split second to set the world right again.

Camp Grandparent has BEGUN!!!

And all of the grandparents brought the kids to Day Care. George & Cheryl have set the bar high- no crying so far ( on the kid's part anyway!!) .

You should see the directions for the remotes... quite the schematics.

f

So HOW wrong is this?

While conversing about going to Rochester for Camp Grandparent, Dan looked at me the other night & said with a twinkle in his eye, "I'm going to dig through their freezer and find me a BIG steak to grill".

Just now as I was emptying the dishwasher I thought to myself, "I'm going to go through their liquor cabinet and find me some HIGH priced booze for a mixed drink.".

It's kind of like reversed naughtiness, isn't it?

Flash!

Fried eggplant from the garden tonight!!!

Also from the garden & in a pasta salad tonight:

White & red onions, cucumbers,tomatoes, zucchini & dill.

The eggplant recipe ( from Dan the gardening Man):

Breading : Mix together
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
garlic powder ( use sparingly)
salt/ pepper

Slice the eggplant 1/8 inch thick. Leave the skin on.

Run water over a slice of eggplant, shake off excess water , roll in prepared breading until covered completely & put on a plate.

Repeat with each slice until you have a plateful of prepared eggplant slices.

Cover the bottom of a frying pan with olive oil. Heat it hot enough so that when you put the eggplant in it fries. We use the 5 setting on our stove. Eggplant will soak up a lot of oil so the following trick is important:

Once you have placed all the slices of eggplant on the bottom of the hot frying pan flip them over right away.

Fry on this side until golden brown, then flip back over to the side you started with & brown that side. Place on a paper towel. Serve hot.

I personally like the following on the side ( but Dan does not) . I learned to like it while in Turkey and sometimes I double it & put sliced cucumbers and onion in it for a cool, summer salad:

In a glass bowl blend:

1 cup plain yogurt
1 generous tsp. garlic paste ( you buy it in a small jar.. it is soaked in olive oil)
2 tsp. sugar

Stir to blend thoroughly by hand. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least a day, stir it a few times.

It gets better as it ages ( like us).

Kids.

First.... CNC situation is under control. Lisa has rallied & has good friends ( whom she trusts) helping with details. They had a will. Lisa is hoping to get out from under the properties ( sell out) & find a small condo near her doctors.

1) Danielle has a kidney stone. She has been experiencing pain & discomfort for a few months. Several things had happened simultaneously to confuse what was going on. 1) they moved. 2) they hiked down the grand canyon & back & drank some H2O from the CO river 3) She started using the Nuva ring for BC. 4) She had a UTI that cleared up.

I always know something is up with D when she calls me. She never calls just to chat... so this is a bit of a relief of sorts. One of her friends had convinced her to go on a crazy diet to quel the symptoms & she lost about 10 lbs. So when she was here in July for that wedding she really scared me. As a matter of fact, the reason I never posted any picts. was because she is scary skinny. She's off the diet & sees the urologist next week. Hope it is the stone causing her symptoms.

2) Jess is crazy writing essays for PT school. Her writing test score was good. It amazes me that she does not recognize traits in herself that make her a great candidate. Things like determined, persevere, confident etc. escape her. I think not making the first round of choices kicked her in the ass a bit. I see it making her stronger. I think she is beginning to see it now too when I critique her essays and believe it!!! Which is all that really matters.

I had a weird dream last night.... that Jess got pregnant and that Matt was lazay fair about her continuing to pursue her dreams. It pissed me off.

Let me tell you, if she is not accepted somewhere, it will definitely NOT be for lack of TRYING!!!! Which also, in my opinion, is all that matters. Do your best. And that is all anyone can ask.

Side note..... I told her to take a shower yesterday.... she stinks from being in the "zone". ha ha.

3) Jamie.... getting ready for Hawaii!!!! WOOT!! The kids are looking forward to what J & R call "Camp Grandparents". Cheryl/ George down there T- F. Dan & I F- T. George & Chryl T- whenever they get home.


I've been working on school stuff & realize that somehow we have all gained an extra work load. THREE preps. E3, Reg class, Honors class. Thanks.

Later,

Flash.

Is this funny or WHAT?!!

I'm sorry. Pioneer woman ..again.

Ok I'm just gonna call her PW 'cause she does. See? The damn lingo ( gonna??? 'cause??? )

is freaking rubbing off on me. But this post made me laugh so hard . It's short. Am I sick??? Gaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwd. It is NICE outside!!!! I should get on my motorcycle!! Ok. I will tomorrow. Promise. Go here for Pw's , very funny, post.

Unless you are sane....... then go outside. It's nice out!!!!

Flash

ps We have the windows open & ahhhhhhhhhhhh. How NICE!!!!!! :)